Marine JEEP

ABSTRACT

The vessel is adapted for the safe navigation in rough and storm sea. A belt of variable waterlines is separated from the body of the boat. Possible target population is transport ships, for example: sea commandos, rescue service, pilot service of seaports, sportsmen, owners of comfortable yachts, the industry of tourism and entertainments.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention belongs to shipbuilding field. The invention reduces dependence of the vessel on weather and on area of navigation. The distinction of the new idea assists to overcome any excitement of the sea, such as storms or tsunami.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Earlier developments of a safe marine displacement craft with reduced weather sensitivity were focused on improvement of seaworthiness, unsinkability, stability and hull strength. Still, limitations with regard to the zone of operation and sea state remain for all craft types.

Attempts at an original solution—in terms of shipbuilding practice—to the problem of weather sensitivity consisted in addition of floats (supplementary hulls) capable of rotation with the aid of levers in bearings mounted on the longitudinal hull axis, e.g. European Union Patent EP 367909 B1 and Japanese Patent OP 6135381, and also by application special ballast systems for example see, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,067.

The authors of these patents claimed that this provides the craft with sufficient recovery capacity even in cases of overturning or flooding or during operation in rough seas, yet there is no preservation of the speed/power ratio, of maneuverability or of controllability on any course. Nor is protection provided against storm-generated dynamic loads, especially in situations of possible capsizing and collision with oncoming water masses or with underwater obstacles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is elimination of the above shortcomings; extension of the exploitation range of the craft; improvement of the work regime of the screw/propeller under storm conditions; safety on courses which are parallel to the wave front; cheap and simple fabrication of the displacement hull.

The invention solved the problem of stability's creating in floating craft with rolling/pitching stabilization—“Marine JEEP”. “Marine JEEP” is suitable for sharp turn at high speeds, as well as for safe coping with any sea state, like storms and tsunamis. It is adapted even to courses with the side wind and parallel into a wave front courses. It is most effective in very high seas and even under hurricane conditions.

Areas of exploitation:

-   -   Coastal surfing;     -   Open sea, away from the coast;     -   As an auxiliary means of transportation between natural and         man-made islands and between large vessel at sea;     -   Fishery;     -   Scientific research;     -   Rafting in mountains rivers with waterfalls;     -   Rescue operations;

The “Marine JEEP” system with reduced dependence on the zone of operation and on the weather conditions, such as a wind, wave intensity and direction is intended for the following user's categories:

-   -   Naval commands;     -   Coast Guard;     -   Rescue services;     -   Offshore oil rigs and similar installations (all weather         launches);     -   Pilot services at seaports;     -   Educational and research centers;     -   Tourism, sports, rest- and recreation industry;     -   Extreme-amusement clientele;     -   Luxury yachting.

Crew size, passenger capacity and craft dimensions depend on the client's requirements and are not limited by the proposed principle, but by design peculiarity and expediency. More specifically—a stability controlled floating craft with rolling/pitching stabilization (“Marine JEEP”) suitable for sharp turns at high speeds, as well as for safe coping with any sea state (including storms and tsunamis) on any course, including beam wind and parallel into a wave front.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A floating facility is intended for transportation of people, it falls within the realm of shipbuilding, namely within the category of marine surface craft. In addition to its use in calm waters, crafts of the “Marine JEEP” type are effective the most in the very high seas and even under hurricane conditions.

The general views of the craft are introduced schematically in FIGS. 1-3: Longitudinal section—FIG. 1; Plan—FIG. 2; Cross section—FIG. 3;

Next graphs are attached as well: Option of cargo ship, for example, the tanker (cross section)—FIG. 4; Sailing yacht (lateral view)—FIG. 5 and (cross section) FIG. 5 a; Scheme of interaction “Marine Jeep” with waves—FIG. 6; Belt variables waterlines—FIG. 7; Unfolded pattern of the shell body belt variables waterlines—FIG. 8; Scheme of connection between the unfolded patterns—FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Displacement hull 1 is realized in the form of specialized three-dimensional streamlined body, (referred as “three-beam ellipsoidal toroid”) and consists of three longitudinal beams 2, located around the longitudinal axis and two ring annular tori 3, located on the latter of the fore and aft ends. The longitudinal sections and annular elements are joined together with smooth transitions so that preserved the streamlining forms of the hull.

The cockpit 5 is equipped with fore- and aft-pins (6 and 7) mounted in bearings on the annular elements 3, and its lower part 12 provides a repository for ballast. This function can be served by fuel, water, provisions, batteries, nautical gear and useful items.

The fore pin 6 carries the bow element 8, designed for keeping head and for prevention of slamming. The aft pin 7 carries the transom 9 which in turn carries the outboard engine 10 and propeller 11. The last immersion in water to a depth that is no independent of roll angle displacement hull.

The fore element 8, the cockpit 5 and the transom 9 structurally constitute a rigid unit which serves as the turning axis of the hull and protects it against destructive wave impacts.

A distinctive feature of the “Marine JEEP” is that only two of its three beams (2) of submerged body (1) are immersed. Third beam s continuously kept overhead in the air, ready for immersion whenever one of the others is thrown out by the so-called “irresistible forces of Nature” likely to occur in rough seas and usually leading to capsizing or destruction of the craft.

Unfolded on the plane of the shell body belt variables waterlines 13. Connecting joints 14 in the form of welding or gluing creates the “three-beam elliptical toroid.”

The beams may content liquid cargo (see FIG. 4)-15. This arrangement comes to avoid spill of the dangerous liquids and pollution in case of damaging one of the tanks, this achieved by turning of the displacement hull around the longitudinal axis of the ship.

For the sailing yacht, 16 is a ring that encompassing “three-beam ellipsoidal toroid”, it connects rigidly the fore and the aft parts of the keel with sails and rigging 17. Residential capsule separated from part 1 and 16 and mounted on the bearings 6 and 7, it rotates freely and irrespective of rotation of 16.

This feature ensures the comfort and safety in stormy weather. Even in case of overkill resulted by longitudinal pitching or any other reason in bad weather, “Marine JEEP” returns on the normal position due to the rotation of the residential capsule 5. In this case safety belts must be used by the crew and passengers. 

1. The method of safe movement of the vessel by the sea to any course, regardless of the direction and strength of wind and wave-front with the ability to maneuver in sharp turn at high speed; belts variables waterlines separates from the hull, —its function is performing by “three-beam ellipsoidal toroid” which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the vessel.
 2. The vessel is implemented method of claim 1, its body is equipped with bearing hinges that are attached to the longitudinal axis of the body between the bow and aft ends; “three-beam elliptical toroid” is placed on hinges.
 3. “Three-beam elliptical toroid” of claims 1 and 2 is monolithic, three-dimensional; it is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis which passes through the centers of two tori.
 4. “Three-beam elliptical toroid” of the claim 3 may be made of elastic shell, it is inflatable and durable.
 5. The elastic shell of the “three-beam elliptical toroid” of the claim 3 may to content three identical unfolded patterns. 